MIDDLESEX FOOTBALL: A must read on the death of Weequahic's Jamaal Perry

Even though this space is usually reserved for Middlesex County football happenings, my colleague Mike Kinney, who covers Essex County, wrote one of the most powerful pieces I've ever read.

It's about the recent death of former Weequahic football standout Jamaal Perry.:

By Mike Kinney

I remember that Jamaal Perry was devastated when Weequahic lost its first game of the 2006 season to West Essex, even though he had played reasonably well against one of the best defensive units in all of North Jersey.

This was supposed to be a special Weequahic team; one that knew how to navigate past even quality defensive groups and find ways to overcome mistakes or else not make them in the first place. This was an experienced Weequahic team, and no one represented that veteran status more than Perry, who was starting at QB for the fourth straight year.

Perry was sad after that 20-6 loss, but he was also defiant. This wasn’t going to happen again. Not in his senior year. Not after the work he’d done.

That was okay, because Perry had to be that way. This kid was running coach Altarik White’s offense as a 15-year-old freshman against some football teams that routinely exposed the flaws of teams run by college-bound seniors. There were probably times during that 1-9 season that he wanted to drop his face into his hands and refuse to take any more punishment. But he just balled those hands into fists and kept calling out for more.

That obstinacy made Jamaal get better. Every year, little by little. And his steady improvement is what made Weequahic a champion in ’06. Newark’s first in 31 years.

The Indians spun off 11 straight wins after that West Essex game to capture the Central Jersey, Group 2 crown on a glorious December day at Rutgers Stadium.

But now sweet memories of that moment will forever be nicked by heartbreak because Jamaal Perry is dead. Gunned down Sunday night in St. Peter’s Park. Former teammate Leland Alexander also was shot and now clings to his life at UniversityHospital.

Is this the way it has to be? Will almost every joyous triumph be preceded by or followed by tragedy in the BrickCity? I hate even thinking about it.

Who can forget the West Side team that followed Weequahic’s feat the very next season by claiming the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 championship? One of the things that make it so memorable, pathetically, is the solemn tribute that team paid before each game to Yusef ``Taki’’ Johnson, their former teammate who was shot dead on a Newark street two years earlier. He was 15.

A year later, Shabazz football player Dawud Roberts was stabbed to death in front of his house. He was 17. Another promising athlete cut down too soon. Nyheem Shiggs. Omar Howard, the dreadful list of goes on and on.

I know what people are saying about Jamaal Perry, because they were more than hinted even when he was in high school. He was a tough kid from Lil’ Bricks who ended up ``running with the wrong crowd.’’

That cliche draws a knowing nod of resignation in the city these days and often a wagging finger of accusation in the suburbs. Or worse, no reaction at all. Me? I drop my head in silence for a moment to quietly grieve the passing of just one more kid I had the pleasure of knowing through my wonderful job, but will never get a chance to reunite with at a game somewhere down the road.

What do we do about it? I don’t know. Pray, I suppose. I’m no social scientist or criminologist, and I won’t pretend to be as close to these kids as the beaten-down coaches I so admire.I’m just a high school sports reporter who’s getting tired of seeing so many of these former athletes being placed into coffins.